HEIMLER SCALE OF SOCIAL FUNCTIONING©

The HEIMLER SCALE OF SOCIAL FUNCTIONING© (HSSF) was conceived and developed by the late Prof. Dr. Heimler in the 1950s. Since then it has been fine-tuned by both Prof. Dr. Heimler and colleagues in the field. Many books have been written about the approach and it has been taught at universities and educational settings in Europe, Great Britain, USA, Canada, South Africa, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.

The HSSF is of diagnostic value to the therapist, but its main use is to the patient, as the HSSF© provides a map of the individual’s life. Within approximately fifteen minutes it can measure with great accuracy a person’s level of satisfaction and frustration. It is therefore used in therapy as a treatment instrument, which can be used to make an accurate diagnosis and even a prognosis. It is used successfully with individuals and also with groups. Prof. Dr. Heimler’s method has been applied both to people in need of treatment and to ‘healthy’ individuals who want to explore their untapped potentials. It has been used by teachers working at all educational levels to help students become more creative, in the employer/employee relationship, and by social workers in all fields.

The originality of his work lies in his synthesis of existing theories and practices into a successful working method. Research has shown that it saves approximately 12 hours of interviewing time compared with other approaches. The HSSF consists of 55 simple, down to earth questions about various areas of an individual’s life, and how he/she feels about it. There are also questions about a person’s overall view of life, i.e. what his or her feelings are about their past, about the meaning of the present, and about future aspirations.

After a person has answered these questions with either yes, no or perhaps, one can, through mathematical computation, establish that individual’s level of satisfactions and frustrations – including the amount of depression, denial, anxiety, and rigidity the person is experiencing - and thereby determine where her or his potential lies. Through being able to see, at a glance, a person’s best and worst functioning levels, the therapist can give support accordingly.

The HSSF can be purchased through the National Organisations.  This aspect is still in process of further development.  If you wish to purchace English language scales (HSSF V revised in 2008), please follow the link to BASF on the Links page. 

For further details return to this site regularly!